10 Towns in Kentucky That Were Ranked Among US Favorites
The majestic state of Kentucky first became a state, as well as the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains, in 1792. Home to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, the Mary Todd Lincoln House, and Churchill Downs, which hosts the popular Kentucky Derby, this state of about 4.5 million residents possesses a plethora of towns displaying a multitude of exhilarating amenities and attributes. From Bardstown and the Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum to Danville and the Great American Dollhouse Museum, find ten small towns in Kentucky that were ranked among United States favorites.
Bardstown
Home to the Bardstown Historical Museum, the Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum, and the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, it is no wonder that this pastoral Kentucky town of 13,000 people is known for possessing a rich heritage. Also known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” Bardstown boasts a vast populace of distilleries, like Willett and Lux Row, as well as a plethora of antique shops, like the Rusty Rooster. There are also several excellent dining and lodging options in Bardstown, including Mammy’s Kitchen, serving up a delicious pork chop, and the Bourbon Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn, offering a free breakfast to each of their overnight guests every morning.
Harrodsburg
The town of Harrodsburg, with a population of around 9,000 residents, is the perfect haven for the historical, the cultural, and the natural. There are many attractions that call Harrodsburg home, including Old Fort Harrod State Park, honoring the original 1774 Fort Harrod with a lifesize reproduction, and Devine’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, featuring hay-wagon rides, several corn mazes, and even a petting zoo. There are also a plethora of activities in downtown Harrodsburg as well. Anderson Dean Aquatics is an exhilarating waterpark with fun for the entire family, Big Red Stables offers horseback riding tours of the area, and the Matheny-Taylor House, otherwise known as the Mansion Museum, showcases artifacts from both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.
Elizabethtown
With just over 30,000 permanent residents, Elizabethtown has several historical aspects that make it one of the highest-ranking towns in all of Kentucky. Both the Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum, featuring vintage cars like the 1939 Rolls Royce Wraith that was associated with Marilyn Monroe, and Freeman Lake Park, displaying the Lincoln Heritage House and the Sarah Bush Johnston Memorial, call this Kentucky town home. There are also several natural facets in and around Elizabethtown, including the Elizabethtown Nature Park, located at the northern end of Freeman Lake, Freeman Lake Park itself, and the American Legion Park, situated closer to downtown Elizabethtown. The American Legion Park even has a waterpark on-site.
Paducah
The picturesque river town of Paducah, situated where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio River, has a population of around 30,000 people. Along with being the home of a vast variety of historical attractions, like the William Clark Market House Museum and the historic riverfront, which features the famous Paducah Riverwalk, there are several cultural venues in Paducah. Downtown Paducah offers a plethora of fine and casual dining options, including Doe’s Eat Place and the Freight House. The National Quilt Museum showcases over 650 handmade quilts, the floodwall portrays a plethora of handmade murals, and the Lower Town Arts District holds the Lowertown Arts & Music Festival every year in May.
La Grange
Situated 25 miles northeast of the city of Louisville, the quaint town of La Grange has a variety of natural, historical, and cultural amenities. The La Grange Railroad Museum features several railroad exhibits, three model-train displays, and a 1929 L&N Dining Car, and Falling Rock Park, otherwise known as “the Quarry,” offers exhilarating diving and rock-wall climbing opportunities. There are also a multitude of dining and lodging options in and around La Grange. One Nineteen West Main serves a great fried pickle appetizer, Main Street Bourbon has outdoor seating, and the Pillow and Paddock Bed & Breakfast offers free wifi, free parking, and a free breakfast the next morning.
Danville
The town of Danville, located on the east side of Boyle County, has around 17,000 permanent residents and is the perfect haven for the historical enthusiast. Danville is home to the Great American Dollhouse Museum, which displays over 200 dollhouses and tiny buildings, a 1910 miniature town, and a village, and the McDowell House Museum, showcasing the house itself, as it was owned by Dr. Ephraim McDowell in the early 19th century. There are also several cultural aspects to Danville, including Vendor’s Village and Not Quite Antiques, two antique stores, the Art Center of the Bluegrass, and the Great American Brass Band Festival, which is held every year in downtown Danville.
Midway
Halfway between Frankfort and the city of Lexington, the quaint town of Midway has several natural and historical venues that portray a calming sense of peace and nostalgia, like Walter Bradley Park and the variety of trails it offers the avid hiker, and the Midway Museum, showcasing the history of Midway and the area around it. There are also a plethora of fine and casual dining experiences in Midway, including the Heirloom Restaurant on East Main Street and The Brown Barrel and Blind Harry's on North Gratz. Plus, in the range of cultural attributes, the town of Midway hosts the Midway Bourbon & Blues Festival in June and the Midway Fall Festival every September.
Berea
The small town of Berea, with a population of around 15,000 people, boasts a vast variety of natural, historical, and cultural aspects, including the Berea Pinnacles, the Boone Trace Marker, and the Artisan Village District. The Boone Trace Marker was erected in 1915 to honor Daniel Boone’s Trail. Several attractions also call the town of Berea home, like the Spotlight Playhouse and Happy Hills Farm & Retreat. There are also a plethora of activities and festivals in downtown Berea, including the Berea Craft Festival in July, Thursday Night Vibe in August, and the Spoonbread Festival, held every September and featuring everything from hot-air balloons to carnival rides and fair food.
Hodgenville
Situated in the center of LaRue County, about 12 miles to the southeast of Elizabethtown, the town of Hodgenville is perhaps most famous for its association with being the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. This town of about 3,000 people also hosts the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, which showcases the modest roots of the 16th president of America, the Lincoln Museum, and Abraham Lincoln’s Boyhood Home, located at Knob Creek. There are also several attributes of a more natural demeanor within Hodgenville, including Hinton’s Orchard & Farm Market and Creekfront Park, and a variety of dining and lodging options, like The 16th, which serves a delicious pie, and Sweet Sister Sweets, with their Sisters’ Club Sandwich.
Frankfort
Possibly one of the best-rated towns in the entire state of Kentucky, excluding the more popular cities like Louisville and Lexington, the capital of Frankfort has a plethora of activities and attributes that urge visitors to return each and every year. There are also several distilleries, including Buffalo Trace, Castle & Key, and Glenns Creek; Frankfort is famous for its Kentucky Bourbon. And yet, this town of almost 30,000 permanent residents has a historical thread below its cultural values. The Governor’s Mansion, overlooking the Kentucky River, was first built in the early 1900s. The Rebecca Ruth Candy Tours and Museum displays antique candy-making equipment. And the Frankfort Cemetery, which began in 1840, is the final resting place of Daniel Boone.
The great state of Kentucky is home to the boyhood log cabin of Abraham Lincoln, the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Bourbon, and the Louisville Slugger Museum. There are also 4.5 million people, living and thriving in over 400 different towns and cities. From the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History in Bardstown to the Hinton’s Orchard & Farm Market in Hodgenville, uncover ten towns in the state of Kentucky that were ranked among US favorites on your next road trip through the Bluegrass State.
